The Little Mermaid 1989

Ariel's curiosity vs. Triton's ban

Ariel, a mermaid of Atlantica, collects human artifacts and is fascinated by the world above. She shares her curiosity with her best friend Flounder and learns from Scuttle's unreliable tips about humans. King Triton forbids contact with humans, setting the stage for a forbidden, defining conflict.

The surface event and instant attraction

Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian sneak to the surface to witness Prince Eric's birthday celebration. Ariel is instantly captivated by Eric when she sees him. The moment seeds a romance that defies her father's decree.

Eric's rescue and the first connection

A violent storm wrecks the ship, and Ariel bravely rescues Eric, bringing him to shore. She sings to him, but vanishes before he wakes to keep her identity secret. The encounter marks the beginning of a hidden bond between them.

Triton discovers Ariel's secret

King Triton confronts Ariel to uncover her feelings for Eric. He learns of her love for a human and, in a misguided effort to protect her, destroys her grotto artifacts. Ariel breaks down in tears over the loss of her treasured collection.

Ursula's deal with Ariel

Flotsam and Jetsam lead Ariel to Ursula, the sea witch. Ursula offers to transform Ariel into a human for three days in exchange for Ariel's voice, kept in a nautilus shell. If Ariel does not receive a true love's kiss within the window, she becomes Ursula's property.

Ariel becomes human and goes to the surface

Ariel accepts Ursula's deal and gains legs, while Ursula takes Ariel's voice and hides it in a shell. Flounder and Sebastian escort Ariel to the surface, where she begins her new life among humans. The transformation marks the literal opening of her new path to love.

Ariel meets Eric and grows closer

Eric finds the mysterious girl who saved him and brings her to his castle. They spend time together, and a strong bond forms as they get to know each other. On the second day, they nearly kiss but are interrupted by interference from Ursula's agents.

Vanessa uses Ariel's voice to enchant Eric

Ursula, disguising herself as a young woman named Vanessa, uses Ariel's voice to hypnotically enchant Eric, making him forget about Ariel. The spell thwarts Ariel's growing chance at a real romance with Eric. Ursula's plot advances while Ariel confronts rising despair.

Scuttle uncovers Vanessa and the wedding chaos

Scuttle discovers Vanessa's true identity and informs Ariel. Ariel races to stop the wedding barge, while Sebastian alerts Triton to Ursula's treachery. Sea creatures disrupt the ceremony, Ursula's shell is destroyed, and Ariel's voice returns, breaking the enchantment on Eric. Eric leans in for a kiss, but the sunset arrives and Ariel reverts to a mermaid.

Ursula's rise and Triton's sacrifice

Ursula grows massive and seizes control of the ocean's magic. To free Ariel, Triton confronts Ursula and sacrifices his power by giving up the trident and taking Ariel's place as Ursula's prisoner, allowing Ursula to claim the seas as queen. The balance of Atlantica hangs in the balance as polyps spread across the realm.

Eric vs. Ursula: the final battle

Eric confronts Ursula on the open sea and uses a wrecked ship to strike against her. He impales Ursula with the bowsprit, ending her tyrannical hold. With Ursula defeated, Triton’s polyps revert to their original forms and order begins to return to the ocean.

Triton grants Ariel her wish and blesses the union

Moved by Ariel's love, Triton reverses his previous punishment and blesses their marriage. He uses his power to turn Ariel fully into a human and approves her union with Eric. The act restores harmony between Atlantica and the surface world in a hopeful new era.